Most employers look for legal updates on new laws impacting their business at the start or end of each year. However, the laws and ordinances discussed below are effective on July 1, 2024.
Workplace Violence Prevention Plans
Senate Bill (“SB”) 553 requires employers to implement a workplace violence prevention plan and to train all employees on that plan by July 1, 2024 (and annually thereafter). Employers should set aside substantial time to work on this task (or ask us for help!), as each plan must include a long list of specific information, and employees must involve their employees and authorized representatives in the development of the plan. The training also must include specific topics and information, and employers must make someone knowledgeable about the plan available to answer questions. Both the plan and training must be customized to specific worksites. SB 553 also imposes recordkeeping obligations on employers.
Read SB 553 here, and our previous article about its requirements here.
Health Care Industry Minimum Wage Increase
SB 525 established a schedule to gradually increase the minimum wage for workers in the health care industry. On July 1, 2024, minimum wage for most larger facilities will increase to $23 per hour, $21 per hour for most smaller facilities, and $18 per hour for facilities with a large percentage of Medicare and Medicaid patients, rural independent hospitals, and small county facilities. After the initial increase, the scheduled rate of increase varies based on the size of the facility and employer type, and may continue to adjust beyond the statutory schedule, based on the Consumer Price Index. For more information, read our previous blog post here.
Local Minimum Wage Increases
Effective July 1, 2024, local ordinances will increase minimum wages as follows:
- Alameda: $17.00 per hour
- Berkeley: $18.67 per hour
- Emeryville: $19.36 per hour
- Fremont: $17.30 per hour
- Los Angeles City: $17.28 per hour
- Los Angeles County (unincorporated areas): $17.27 per hour
- Malibu: $17.27 per hour
- Milpitas: $17.70 per hour
- Pasadena: $17.50 per hour
- San Francisco: $18.67 per hour
- Santa Monica: $17.27 per hour
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Employers should act quickly to identify which new laws or ordinances apply to them, and ensure they will be in compliance by July 1, 2024.
